Removing your dentures at night while you sleep will increase your oral health and your gums will thank you for it! Experts highly advise that if you wear dentures, you should be giving your gums and dentures a well-deserved break at nighttime. Soaking your dentures in a denture cleaning solution or clean water will increase their longevity and will keep them in tip-top shape, which in turn will prevent bacteria and plaque buildup. Additionally, your gums will have an opportunity to be naturally cleaned by saliva in the mouth, which will prevent infections from developing and decrease the chance of irritations your mouth.
Community News
Second Home for Seniors
The Comox Seniors’ Centre, located at 1801 Beaufort Ave in Comox, offers a wide range of opportunities to socialize, be physically fit, and stay mindfully active. The Centre re-opened in July with an on-site meal service and more than 40 club activities ranging from Yoga, Carpet Bowling, Table Tennis, Line Dancing, Mah Jong, Bridge, Spanish Conversation, etc. For many seniors this Centre is their second home. For more information, drop in or call 250-339-5133 or visit our website www.comoxseniors.ca Comox Seniors’ Centre.
Holiday Greetings!
The Board and staff of the Comox Valley Senior Support Society wish you a peaceful holiday season and very best wishes for 2022.
Life Stages and Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can affect people of all ages for various reasons such as genetics, exposure to loud noises, presbycusis, autoimmune issues and sometimes ototoxic medications. More dangerously, untreated hearing loss can cause issues, often psychological, which also tend to be the indicators.
If you’re concerned that you or a loved one may have hearing loss, here’s a list of signs in each stage of life that may indicate a hearing loss.
Children
Signs of hearing loss in children often go unnoticed, hence it’s important to look for signs as early as infancy for quick treatment. If a hearing loss isn’t indicated now, it’s still a possibility as they age.
Here are some of the signs to watch for:
- Lack of attention to sound and sound localization
- Delayed speech development
- Unable to monitor their own voice or follow verbal instructions
- Behavioural changes and hyperactivity
- Poor school performance
Teenagers
Diagnosing teens is easier because they’ve developed communication skills. Personalities influence any diagnosis because they affect our verbal interactions and reactions to different situations.
The following are some indicators:
- Struggles with verbal cues and instructions
- Often ask people to repeat themselves
- Lack of participation in school activities, poor school performance
- Isolated from social situations
- Behavioural changes – may act out or do nothing at all
Adults and Seniors
In adults, signs of hearing loss present differently with age due to developed coping mechanisms. Seniors often lose their hearing as they age, but they can take action to treat it for a better quality of life.
Here are signs to look for:
- Regularly ask people to repeat themselves
- Talk very loud or quiet
- Difficulties understanding verbal communication
- Isolate themselves in noisy environments and don’t participate
- May present with depression or anxiety
- Complaints of dizziness, ringing in ears and exhaustion
If you’re concerned about hearing loss affecting you or a loved one, NexGen Hearing provides free hearing tests and hearing aid consultations, sales and fittings. NexGen Hearing’s team is dedicated to helping you find solutions and discussing your hearing needs, goals and options to find the best outcome and support you every step of the way.
Author: By NexGen Hearing, NexGenHearing.com
Ask The Expert
Q: I don’t see very well out of my lazy eye. Is there any way I can make it better? I’m 39 years old and my eyes are otherwise healthy.
A: That is likely difficult. A “lazy” eye means it didn’t develop functional vision by early childhood, and this can happen for a variety of reasons. At this point in your life, corrective lenses or vision therapy could give you some modest help, depending on how lazy the eye is. Children ought to have an eye examination at an early age for this very reason as it is more easily treatable at that time.
Light Therapy for SAD
It is hard to imagine that summer is now behind us, but it’s true. As we head into winter, we’re encountering shorter daylight hours and more grey skies. As a result, we sometimes find that winter will trigger Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). How do we treat SAD? In severe cases, medications may be needed, and as adjunctive treatment, light therapy may be added. Effective light therapy is achieved by exposure to 10,000 lux cool-white light. Optimal exposure is for 30 to 45 minutes early in the morning upon awakening.
Volunteers Needed!
Volunteers Needed at Comox Valley Senior Support Society! The vital component of most of our programs at CV Senior Support are volunteers! While staff coordinate the pieces to make programs work, it is our incredible volunteers who venture into the community and provide the supports many of our clients depend upon. Volunteering at Comox Valley Senior Support can range from a weekly phone call or in person visit to grocery shopping or assisting seniors to fill out forms and find resources. Volunteers are provided with training and support and opportunities for ongoing education. As our volunteers retire, we need to replace them! If you have an interest in supporting seniors in your community, please contact the office at admin@comoxvalleyseniorsupprt.ca or 250-871-5940 to find out more.
BC Community Response Network
The BC Community Response Network is a provincial organization that supports local CRNs who in tun work to create strong community response for adults who may be experiencing or impacted by abuse, neglect, and self neglect. As the new host agency of the Comox Valley Community Response Network, Comox Valley Senior Support is looking forward to filling the vital role a CRN can play in the community. While, just getting up to speed with the work that needs to be done, staff are looking forward to the task at hand. Please stay tuned for future updates! Further information on BC CRNs can be found at: https://bccrns.ca
Gentle Reminder
As we head into the holiday season, please remember that many systematically excluded members of our community will be alone during this time. The frenzy of the season consumes many of us, but please take a moment to call or visit people you know who are isolated. A brief call or a short visit will make a world of difference for many people.
Donations Welcome as Holidays Draw Near
Donations to Comox Valley Senior Support Society can be directed toward any one of its programs or can be directed towards general operating expenses. Though many of the programs are volunteer powered, there are still numerous expenses for each. If you have any questions about any of these programs or about how a donation may best be used, please Contact Christopher Bate at admin@comoxvalleyseniorsupport.ca or 250-871-4950. Donations can be made by cheque or by following the link on the society’s website.
The Perfect Workout for Seniors
As you age, some types of physical activity can become more difficult. The good news is that swimming, an activity that many seniors find easy, has many health benefits. Here are just a few of the health benefits of swimming you should take advantage of. 1. Bone Health. If you’ve developed joint pain and lower bone mineral density, swimming will give your joints a break while also lowering your risk of osteoporosis. 2. Heart Health. Swimming helps lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease and improve overall cardiovascular health. 3. Mental Health. Swimming can boost cognitive function, reduce stress and even help combat depression.
